Colonies Online

Colonies Online is set on the frontier of known space, where colonists land on uncharted planets and build settlements. You establish and develop a foothold, fight hostile fauna, explore new territories, form alliances and go to war with other players. Survival is difficult in a shared world where other colonists pursue their own interests and nothing is safe.

A shared frontier

Every player inhabits the same game world, with no instances or restrictions on interaction. Settlements and other creations remain in the world while their builders are offline. The game can generate an unlimited number of planets, each spanning thousands of square kilometers, so players can explore and build without being split across separate worlds. The planets hold monsters and mineral resources; finding and extracting some resources requires mines and long-term development, while tracking rare deposits can lead you to remote areas.

Build a colony

Player-built colonies can become centers for communication, research and trade. You choose whether to make a colony a secure military base for your guild or an open trade spaceport, among other possibilities. Building blocks let you create structures and security systems, while auction houses, item storage and vendors can help give each colony its own role.

Combat and conflict

Combat uses an isometric view and a non-target system, with WASD controls. You need to use your surroundings and tactics, and avoid hitting teammates because friendly fire is enabled. You can attack other players anywhere, defend your territory against raids or hunt for their weapons, supplies, resources and technologies, which can be taken permanently. Battles can involve hundreds of players.

Skills and crafting

There are no predefined character classes. Instead, you combine skills to shape a character's abilities and create a profession, then teach that profession to other players. Sets that include rare skills can be sold. Character equipment includes armor, helmets, weapons and energy shields.

Players make almost all items using their technologies. Flexible craft-circuits allow you to create equipment and building pieces and customize their parameters. You can also study patterns in substances gathered from defeated monsters to research new technologies and make more powerful equipment, though these discoveries may attract attention from other players.